Calm Returns And Security Beefed Up In Jos

Calm Returns And Security Beefed Up In Jos
Ben Shemang, Jos

Calm has returned to north central Jos, Plateau state and workers have resumed to offices on Wednesday, amid tight security at the state and federal secretariats.

Reports say workers going into the office complexes were subjected to vehicular and bodily checks by security guards attached to the secretariats.

The security check was informed by series of blasts in some parts of Jos on the eve of Christmas.

Security was tightened following a report of another attempted bomb blast at Barkin Ladi Local Government Council on Tuesday.

VON correspondent reports that the security agencies, including the military are on top of the situation.

Arrests and investigations

The Nigerian Police says it is carrying out investigations to ascertain whether or not the three suspects arrested in connection with the Christmas Eve blasts, are members of an Islamic group which had claimed responsibility for the attack.

Spokesman for the Special Task Force, Lieutenant Colonel Charles Nweocha, advised the people to be vigilant and report suspicious individuals to the authorities.

Nweocha said the three suspects, arrested on Sunday at Giring Abattoir, have been handed over to the police for further questioning.

He said the suspects, 24- year old Sabiu Yusuf, Ismail Garga and Sirajo Mohammadu, of Niger nationality, were currently helping the police in their investigations.

A group, Jama'atu Ahlus-Sunnah Lidda'awati wal Jihad, had on Monday, claimed responsibility for the multiple bomb blasts on its website.

In its statement, the group claimed that it carried out the attacks in Jos and Borno.

Casualties but no refugees
So far, 80 People have been killed in the crisis while over 200 were injured, some seriously.

The Deputy Director of Information, National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Daniel Gambo says there was no influx of refugees from the recent crisis.

The Chief of Defence Staff and the Chief of Army Staff have visited Jos and were briefed about the crisis by the state governor, Jonah Jang.

Council seeks stiff penalty for perpetrators

Meanwhile, the Nigeria Inter Religious Council (NIREC), co-chaired by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa'ad and the National President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, have called on the government to fish out perpetrator of the crisis in Jos and bring them to justice.

Addressing a joint press conference in Lagos , the Sultan maintained that the crisis was caused by failure of leadership and that it equally had religious connotation.

The NIREC chairmen also suggested that the first days of the months preceded the election month should be set aside for prayers and fasting for the peaceful conduct of the scheduled 2011 general election.

With additional reports from NAN/Newspaper/Dare/Yinka